Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-04

This historic, oid-fashioueG town has not
only been made famous from the fact of
having been battle ground of the late war,
but the invigorating air and pleasing sur
roundings have gone toward helping to
make il what it is -dey, pleasant sum-
me. resort. Winchester is situated on the
Valley Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, half way between Washington and
Staunton, Va, and is the county town of
Frederick county, Va. People from all
parts Of the universe seem TO flock here dur
ing the summer and autumn, and to-day
the Town is crowded 10 its utmost capacity
with strangers, who find ample accommo-
dati0ns and good fare at some Of the many
boarding houses in and around Winchester.
Virginia life is to be seen here in its most
delightful phase, and Southern hospitality
abounds everywhere Mauy of the best
families are in reduced circumstances and
open their houses for the reception of board
ers The days are cool and pleasant, and
slip swiftly by with but little to mark their
flight, and the night steals upon US almost
unewa:es and then the revelFy is sup.
posed to begin. Moonlight picnics, drv
Ing parties and germans are the order
of entertainment, and the gay little
town rings with shouts of laughter and
eli is Us merry as marriage bell l had
long talk the other day with Judge Parker,
tho man who condemned John Brown. He
is noW hoary headed old man. aud to this
day ne cannot speak of that trial without
evI..cing emotion, but he always ends by
saying he thinks Brown deserved his fate.
The first Sunday in September drove, with
4 party of friends, to an old colonial church,
twelve miles from Winchester, in Clarke
built by the Burrell family. This
church is opened for service once year,
and on this occasion there is great gather
ING OF the clans-the Lees, Burrells, Pages
and Brents. The ground was donated by
LORD Thomas Fairfax, and in the deed the
reservation was made that if ever the church
ceased 10 be place of worship it was to re-
vert to the family, consequently the people
OF the ncighborhood keep up the custom Of
having service in it once during the year.
This little "stone chapel" las it is called) is
built after the style of a century ago. with
the old high back-pews, the wine glass
shaped pulpit, and the sounding board
above it. Oae very peculiar feature Of the
architecture is the gallery, which to ascend
cne must 60 outside and walk around to
the back OF the building, where the stairs
are 10 be found. One OF the early rectors
of the church was Bishop Meade, Of Fir-
ginia, aud inside there is a tablet erected
TO his memory, upon which it states that
this church was bis first charge, and that in
after gears he always looked to it's interest,
aud iG death be expressed the desire to rest
in its quiet churchyard, but that it had been
deemed best otherwise, and he lies buried in
Hollywood Cemetery Richmond. There is
q beautiful cemetery on the outskirts of
Winchester, where the ladies of the town
have erected four or FIVE monuments to their
fallen dead. Georgia and Maryland have
proved their appreciation of their sons and
heroes by two handsome columns. What
touched me most of all was the monument
to some eight hundred unknown Confeder-
ate soldiers, erected principally through the
efforts Of the ladies of Winchester. The
column is about 20 feet high, and on top,
standing in bold relief, resting on his gun, is
the figure of Confederate soldier. Beneath
the figure, and on every side, is a laurel
wreath, and Inscribed on the four sides are
encomiums Of their bravery and courage.
About a stones throw distant lie the Ashby
brothers, buried side by side, and towering
above them is q substantial tribute to their
valor, erected by the women of the South.
Gen. Lee is accredited with the remark,
when the news was brought to him that
Gen Ashby had fallen, that he felt as if he
had lost his two right hands-Ashby and
Jackson Winchester cor. IVash. Star.